Abstract:

BACKGROUND: At present, there is not a unified standard about when to start ambulation after lumbar diskectomy. In the present experiment, we guided functional exercises of patients after lumbar diskectomy based on early biomechanical changes.
OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of fatigue load on lumbar stability after lumbar diskectomy.
METHODS: Twelve functional spinal units were taken from 3 fresh porcine spines and divided into A group, B group and C group randomly. Fatigue load test was performed in all cases with different cycle load pressures (500-1 000 N, 500-2 000 N, 500-
3 000 N) after unilateral lumbar diskectomy.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: There was no significant difference between A group and B group in disc height and stiffness (P > 0.05), but the increased strain showed significant difference (P < 0.05); Disc height and stiffness in B group and C group was reduced, strain was increased, and all these differences were significant (P < 0.01). Change ranges of disc height, strain and stiffness in the three groups were increased with the increase of the load pressure after cyclic tensile test (P < 0.05). The results showed that a bigger fatigue load can damage lumbar stability after lumbar diskectomy.